The Description of Jesus to the Seven Churches

When John turned towards the trumpet voice that commanded his attention, the first thing he saw was seven gold lampstands, “which are the seven churches”. In their midst, he saw the one “like a Son of Man”, who was Jesus.  

One of the duties of the Old Testament priests was to tend the golden lampstand in the tabernacle. They had to fill the oil, clean the soot, and trim the wicks every day. They had to closely inspect and care for the lamps so they would burn continually before the Lord. Here is Jesus, our High Priest, amid the seven lampstands, carefully inspecting and caring for the lamps, helping them always burn brightly before God. 

What is amazing to me is that each church is reminded of a specific attribute of Jesus in that initial vision. Each attribute directly meets a concern or need that they have. He knows each church. He is in the midst of each church, and He can fulfill exactly what they need. All the churches are reading this, and they realize that Jesus can meet their needs no matter what each individual is going through, no matter what each church is facing. This vision of Jesus in chapter one is central to the book. It is not something to read and forget. It is something we should refer back to repeatedly, allowing the various details of this vision to encourage us in particular ways depending on what kind of challenges we’re facing.

Ephesus 

The description of Christ given to Ephesus is, “The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands” (Rev. 2:1). This refers back to 1:12-13.

The seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches and most commentators, and what I believe is the seven stars represent the leaders or pastors of those churches. The Ephesian church was a well-known church and had enjoyed some amazing leadership—Paul, Timothy, who were now dead and the apostle John, who was now gone, exiled to Patmos. Imagine how discouraged they would be. Their key leaders and pastors were now gone. But the Lord is reminding them that He was in control of the ministry, placing the “stars” where He pleased.  

It is easy for churches to rely more on their leaders than Christ. In this day of celebrity churches and pastors, it is easy for churches to elevate a pastor, a person, to a position of authority that they were never intended to have. People look and depend on man instead of God. Here Christ is reminding the church that pastors and teachers are God’s gifts (Eph. 4:11), and He is in complete control. Jesus is reminding them that He is head of the church, He is leader, ruler, high priest of the church and is still in control, even if their leaders are no longer with them.  

Smyrna 

The description of Christ given to Smyrna is, “The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life” (Rev. 2:8). This refers back to 1:17-18.

The assembly at Smyrna was persecuted for the faith, which explains why the Lord emphasized His death and resurrection as He opened His message. The church at Smyrna was not having an easy time. The members were persecuted because they would not compromise and say, “Caesar is Lord.” The Roman Emperor demanded worship and everyone to call him “Lord”. Smyrna was an important center of the Roman imperial cult, and anyone refusing to acknowledge Caesar as Lord would indeed be persecuted. This would mean unemployment, poverty and even death. Smyrna’s very name comes from the word myrrh, a sweet-smelling perfume used in embalming dead bodies.

Jesus reminds the Christians in Smyrna that they serve the risen Lord, victorious over death. Death could not hold Jesus, and it cannot hold His people. They have hope of a resurrection and glorified body because He was resurrected and is glorified. With this opening, right away, He is infusing hope into them.  

Pergamum 

To Pergamum, He describes Himself by, “The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword” (Rev. 2:12). This refers to 1:16.

Pergamum was called “the greatest city in Asia Minor, .”It had the first temple dedicated to Caesar and had three temples dedicated for the worship of the Roman Empire. This is probably what “Satan’s seat” is meant in Revelation 2:13. In addition, it had four other temples to worship other Roman and Greek gods. Like their brothers and sisters in Smyrna, the believers in Pergamos had suffered persecution. Some even died for the faith.  

There were two types of believers Jesus is speaking to in this congregation. Some had remained faithful to God despite intense suffering. They refused to drop incense on the altar and say, “Caesar is Lord .”Jesus references a sword to these believers because the blade was also the symbol of the Roman governor, but He has a sharp two-edged sword that is more powerful than the sword of Rome. It was a reminder that it was more important for the church ro fear Christ’s sword than the Roman sword.

The second group was mixing Christianity with other acts of worship. These included sacrifices to idols and sexual immorality. Jesus would use this sharp two-edged sword to separate the Christians in Pergamum. This reminds us of Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Jesus will confront this church with His word.  

Thyatira 

To Thyatira, He describes Himself as, “the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (Rev. 2:18). This looks back to Rev. 1:14-15.

This city had a special temple to Apollo, the “sun god,” which explains why the Lord introduced Himself as “the Son of God .”John had to deliver a severe warning and judgment message to this church, which explains the description of the Lord’s eyes and feet.  

Fire is often associated with judgment in the Scriptures (Matthew 5:22, 2 Peter 3:7). Jesus’ eyes displayed the fire of searching, penetrating judgment. The eyes of Jesus know all, see all, and pierce through all. Hebrews 4:13 says, “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” He knows all about you. You can’t get away from the eyes of the Lord Jesus. He knows the victories and the challenges, the mountain tops and the valleys, the good works and the hidden sins. Christ has absolute, comprehensive, and intimate knowledge of the true nature of our lives. If you’re playing around with sin or fallen into sin, this is a sobering statement that should bring you to your senses.

The feet like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace speak of someone who has been through the fires of judgment, and has come out with refined purity. Jesus has been through the “Refiner’s Fire.” He was tested and tempted and proven to be pure.  

Brass was also the strongest known metal in the ancient world. Therefore feet like fine brass are an emblem of his stability and permanence. Jesus says that he and he alone is a firm foundation that has been put through trials of fire and will last for all eternity. He is strong and immovable. 

Sardis

To Sardis, He described Himself as the one possessing the “seven Spirits of God and the seven stars” (Rev. 3:1). This looks back to 1:4 (seven spirits) and 1:20 (seven stars). 

The idea of the seven Spirits is taken from Isaiah 11:2. It describes seven aspects of the Holy Spirit, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.” It isn’t that there are seven different spirits of God. Rather the Spirit of the Lord has these characteristics, and He has them all in fullness and perfection. There is only one Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4), but the number seven demonstrates fullness and completeness. The Holy Spirit gives life to the church, and life is exactly what the people at Sardis needed. The church was alive in name only and living from their past glory. It required a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 

All of the church’s past accomplishments or man-made programs can never bring life. The church was born when the Spirit of God fell on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Its life comes from the Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can infuse new life and bring revival! This is a reminder to depend on the Holy Spirit in each season, each day asking the Holy Spirit to fill us.

Philadelphia 

To Philadelphia, He says, “The words of the holy one, the true one” (Rev. 3:7). This refers back to 1:14 where it talks about “The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.” That’s a picture of His absolute purity, His holiness.  

Philadelphia was situated on one of the greatest highways in the ancient world, which led from Rome to the East. Philadelphia was the gateway from one continent to another. It was also called “little Athens” because of the many temples in the city. 

Jesus Christ presented Himself to the church at Philadelphia as “the holy one.” Jesus Christ is holy in His character, words, actions, and purposes. As the Holy One, He is uniquely set apart from everything else, and nothing can be compared to Him.

There were hundreds of false gods and goddesses in Philadelphia, so He reminded them that He is the true one. He is the original, not a copy; the authentic God, not a manufactured one, not a man-made idol. Jesus is the one true God.

Laodicea 

The description of Christ given to Laodicea is, “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation” (Rev. 3:14). This refers to 1:5-6.

The Lord presented Himself as “the Amen,” an Old Testament title for God from Isaiah 65:16. He declares that He is the truth, and He speaks the truth because He is “the faithful and true Witness.” 

The church of Laodicea was blind to its own needs and unwilling to face the truth. If we want God’s best for our lives and churches, we must be honest with God and let God be honest with us. Honesty is the beginning of true blessing. As we admit what we are and confess our sins, we can receive all that we need from God.  

The first thing Jesus does is point each church back to Himself. Everything in this vision speaks of strength, majesty, authority and righteousness. We tend to think of Jesus as He was, not Jesus as He is. Jesus in the flesh but not the glorified Jesus. Paul said, “Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer” (2 Corinthians 5:16). John saw Jesus as He is today. This is such a powerful vision. The church must see Jesus as He is. Jesus is alive and reigning right now. This vision of Christ should be first and foremost. It is the glorified Christ. It is the victorious Christ. This glorious, overwhelming vision of the exalted Christ should encourage us as followers of Christ to persevere in faith no matter what we are facing. He is all we need.  

Read this incredible vision out loud and be encouraged today. 

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not…” 

– Revelation 1:12-17

There is a lot of fear today. The word to the churches here and the word to us today is, “do not be afraid”. You belong to the Lord Jesus. He is in control. Nothing can come into your life that does not first come through Jesus’s plan for your life. Jesus is the one who created you, sustains you and cares for you. You are His bride, the church. No matter what we are facing, whatever we need is found in Jesus and Jesus alone. He is exactly what we need in this season.  

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash